Iranian Baha’i Community Emancipation (Senate – June 26, 1996)

          
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          IRANIAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY EMANCIPATION (Senate - June 26, 1996)
          [ Page: S7065] GPO's PDF
          Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the
          immediate consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 102.
          The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
          The legislative clerk read as follows:
          A concurrent resolution (H.Con.Res. 102) concerning the emancipation of the Iranian
          Baha'i community.
          The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate consideration of the
          concurrent resolution?
          There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the concurrent resolution.
          Mrs. KASSEBAUM. Mr. President, the Senate today will adopt legislation
          condemning Iran's persecution of the Baha'i community. We have taken similar action
          in the past, and I regret that our continued vigilance on this matter is required.
          We choose today to adopt this legislation in remembrance of a great tragedy for the
          Baha'i community and for all who value human rights and religious freedom. Thirteen
          years ago this month, Iranian religious officials executed, by hanging, 10 Baha'i
          women--including 3 teenage girls--in the city of Shiraz.
          This killing of innocent women and children came amid a series of Baha'i executions
          during the first half of 1983. At the time, President Reagan had expressed America's
          alarm at the religious persecution of the Baha'is in Iran and had called upon the
          Iranian leadership to spare the lives of those Baha'is condemned to death in Shiraz.
          The Iranian response to this plea was to carry out without hesitation the schedule of
          June executions.
          We know that those men, women, and children were executed not for any crimes but
          for their religious beliefs. We also know the persecution continues to this day in many
          forms, both great and small. -
          BP000279
          
        

          
          Thirty-nine other Senators have joined with me in sponsoring this legislation, and the
          Senate today will unanimously adopt an identical resolution already passed by the
          House of Representatives. By today's action, the U.S. Senate once again will make
          clear to all who will listen: ‘We have not forgotten.'
          Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, at many times during the past 14 years the
          Congress has condemned the Government of Iran for its repressive policies and
          actions toward its Baha'i community. Today, I am honored to be celebrating the
          passage of a resolution which calls on Iran to change its repressive anti-Baha'i policies
          and to protect the rights of all its people including religious minority groups such as
          the Baha'is. The concurrent resolution we are adopting today is similar to the one
          which Senator Kassebaum, Senator McCain, Senator Dodd, and I submitted in this
          body in February.
          Congress has adopted six previous resolutions on this important issue. The record of
          their success is certainly a mixed one, at best. Since their enactment, many Baha'is
          have been penalized by the government, and some even sentenced to death, just
          because of their religious beliefs. On the contrary, previous resolutions have shown
          some success as well, particularly in the case of one man who had been sentenced to
          death for his religious convictions. This man's life was saved as the apostasy case was
          later overturned by the courts in Iran. Although the relationship between the Baha'is
          and the Iranian Government has improved since the first resolution was passed, not
          enough action has been taken. This open policy of repression is in clear violation of
          the obligation of sovereign states to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human
          Rights.
          In the past, President Clinton and former Presidents Reagan and Bush have all shown
          support of the Baha'is. The United Nations and many of its member states have also
          adopted numerous resolutions supporting religious freedom in Iran. Today, in
          adopting this concurrent resolution, we have succeeded in maintaining vigilance on
          the actions of Iranian Government. Only through continued support for change in the
          Iranian regime can over 300,000 Baha'is experience true religious freedom.
          Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be
          considered and agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be
          laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution appeared in the
          appropriate place in the Record.
          The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
          The concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 102) was agreed to.
          The preamble was agreed to.